Christmas is regarded as one of the central celebrations of Christianity, yet it is not observed on the same day worldwide. While in much of Europe, Christmas lights are illuminated and Christmas trees are decorated on December 24th and 25th, for millions of other Christians, the Christmas season begins only in January. This difference is less about the faith itself and more about the calendar.

Christmas is considered one of the central celebrations of Christianity, yet it is not observed on the same day worldwide. In much of Europe, Christmas lights are lit and Christmas trees are decorated on December 24th and 25th, but for millions of other Christians, the Christmas season begins only in January. This difference is more about the calendar than the faith itself. The Roman Catholic Church and most Protestant churches follow the Gregorian calendar, introduced at the end of the 16th century and now the international standard. According to this calendar, Christmas falls on December 25th, although celebrations typically begin on the evening of the 24th.

However, many Orthodox churches adhere to the Julian calendar for fixed holidays, which is significantly older. This calendar is now 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. As a result, December 25th on the Julian calendar corresponds to January 7th on the modern calendar. Consequently, Christmas Eve is on January 6th, and Christmas Day is on January 7th.

Moreover, the Orthodox Church is not a unified entity. Some Orthodox churches use a hybrid calendar for their celebrations or partially align with the Gregorian calendar. Others strictly adhere to the Julian calendar. This explains why Orthodox Christmas celebrations occur on different days from country to country and church to church, even within Europe.

The diversity of calendars is particularly striking in the Holy Land. In Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, Christmas is celebrated multiple times. Catholic Christians celebrate first at the end of December, followed by the Orthodox churches in early January. Even later, the Armenians celebrate, adhering to a very old church tradition. Thus, Christmas lasts for several weeks.

Children also receive gifts at different times

Just as the birth of Jesus is not celebrated on the same day by the peoples of Europe, children do not receive gifts on the same day either. In fact, there are children for whom the surprises are not delivered by Jesus or the Angel.

In Belgium, there are two traditional gift-bringers during the Christmas season: Père Noël and Saint-Nicolas. Saint-Nicolas is akin to Santa Claus and brings gifts to children on December 6th, while Père Noël places surprises under the tree at Christmas.

The Christmas season in Belgium concludes on January 6th with the Feast of the Kings, when children dress up as the three wise men and go from house to house singing Christmas carols, receiving gifts in return, usually treats and cash.

The Dutch Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands by steamboat in mid-November with his helpers, the Black Peters. The Sinterklaas parade is a major celebration for the Dutch every year, but this year it was held without an audience at a secret location due to the coronavirus pandemic and was broadcast on television later, on November 13th. Children place their shoes in front of the fireplace or the garden door, and Sinterklaas rides over the houses at night on his white horse named Amerigo, placing sweets and other gifts in the shoes at the beginning of December. Gift-giving in the Netherlands occurs at this time; children do not receive gifts at Christmas.

Interestingly, in Iceland, it is not Santa Claus or Jesus who brings gifts to children, but the 13 jólasveinar, or Christmas trolls.

They are characters from Icelandic folklore and surprise children by placing gifts in their shoes during the 13 days leading up to Christmas. However, naughty children receive only rotten potatoes instead of gifts.

Witches, devils, and Saint Nicholas

In Italy, the two main figures of the holidays are Befana and Santa Claus. According to tradition, Befana is a good witch who offered shelter to the three kings when they were on their way to the newborn Jesus. The wise men asked the ugly old woman if she would like to go with them to see the Baby Jesus, but she refused; however, she visits children every year and brings them small gifts.

According to legend, Befana can change her appearance, and several customs are associated with her.

In the town of Gradó, for example, every year on January 6th, Italians can witness the landing of ugly sea witches. According to tradition, the witches arrive in glass boats to take away the naughty children.

Meanwhile, in the city of Bolzano, on the same day, more than 400 costumed devils parade through the streets. The procession is led by Saint Nicholas, who protects the children from the horrors that follow him. This custom originated from a tale that the masked boys regularly robbed the villages in the surrounding valleys, and the devil had taken them due to their many misdeeds; only thanks to Saint Nicholas’s intervention were they saved, who defeated evil.

The British green-clad Santa Claus is a nearly forgotten figure, whose story dates back even further than the legend of Saint Nicholas. Various stories and legends mention pagan winter celebrations, in which the green-clad Santa played an important role, symbolizing the arrival of spring with his long green hooded cloak and his wreath made of holly, mistletoe, and ivy.

In Denmark, elves who would steal children’s gifts are not frightened away but are „fed” to prevent the surprises from disappearing. To ensure that the surprises do not vanish, rice pudding and porridge are prepared for the elves. In Norway, it is not the gifts that need to be protected, but the brooms, which are hidden on Christmas Eve, as it is believed that on this night, evil and mischievous witches come out to steal the brooms for a little flying.